Crushed to death

Two men were crushed to death when a 20-foot container van slipped off its trailer and fell on their vehicle on the Delpan Bridge in Tondo, Manila the other night.

The Western Police District’s traffic division identified the fatalities as Joselito de Leon, 29, of B-11 Lot 16 Salmon street, Caloocan City and Federico Cortez, 44, of 1516 Varona street, Tondo Manila.

Initial police investigation showed that the truck with plate number TEA-704 was atop the bridge at about 9:00 p.m. on its way to the North Harbor when the accident happened.

Police said the truck driven by Noel Martinez, 22, suddenly suffered "hydraulic failure" on top of the bridge and started to slide downwards.

According to police, Martinez then decided to maneuver the truck toward the bridge’s railing. However, as he was maneuvering the truck, the heavy container van it was carrying, suddenly slipped and came crashing into the victims’ Anfra utility vehicle (WHL-382).

Police said the heavy container van crushed the van, pinning the two men inside.

Martinez later surrendered to police. – Mike Frialde